Top 10 Worst Things About Space Travel
Space is fascinating and full of wonder, inspiring us to learn new things about the universe.However, going to space is a challenge unlike any other, and it also comes with significant downsides for those who venture into it.
It's very common to experience motion sickness during space travel, and it can be very intense. When you launch on a rocket, the vibrations can shake you hard enough to potentially cause whiplash. Additionally, the acceleration during launch produces extreme g-forces that make breathing difficult. This can lead to nausea, vomiting, and changes in heart rate and blood pressure.
In space, you experience weightlessness (0-g), which can also cause motion sickness. Blood can rush to your head, and it becomes difficult to distinguish up from down, exacerbating the feeling of sickness. The side effects of this can include nausea, headaches, dizziness, and disorientation.
Even after returning to Earth, motion sickness can persist, and recovery can take time. This experience requires courage, good health, and extensive training.
In space, the lack of adequate pressure and gravity can affect the heart's ability to pump blood properly. This often results in the heart becoming smaller and more rounded, and can lead to irregular heartbeats.
Rocket launches produce powerful vibrations that can shake you uncontrollably, potentially leading to whiplash or even a stroke. The human brain is cushioned within the skull by cerebrospinal fluid, but the intense shaking during a launch can cause the brain to make contact with the skull, increasing the risk of injury.
Unlike shaking your head voluntarily, which you can control, rocket vibrations are uncontrollable and can be damaging. These sudden changes in motion can affect bones, organs, and the brain, leading to serious consequences like whiplash. Astronauts are well-prepared and incredibly brave to face these challenges.
Space travel can be isolating, as astronauts are separated from their friends, family, and Earth. This isolation can lead to feelings of loneliness and homesickness, making it one of the psychological challenges of space travel.
Space is filled with cosmic radiation, which can damage DNA and increase the risk of cancer. Sources of cosmic radiation include the Sun, other stars, supernovae, hypernovae, neutron stars, and black holes. Exposure to high levels of this radiation is potentially lethal.
In space, there is a significant amount of debris, especially around Earth, where we've sent numerous satellites. Collisions between satellites create space junk, which orbits at speeds much faster than bullets. Even a small piece of this debris can damage spacecraft or pose a lethal threat to astronauts.
Despite the large size of rockets, the interior space, particularly in capsules, is very cramped. Those with claustrophobia may find the confined spaces uncomfortable, as movement is limited and space for adjustments or control is minimal.
On Earth, we have a 23.93447117-hour day due to the planet's rotation, which helps regulate our sleep patterns. In space, without this natural cycle, it's difficult to maintain regular sleep schedules, often leading to disrupted sleeping patterns. This disruption can have negative effects on an astronaut's health and is a significant challenge in space travel.
On Earth, we enjoy a variety of flavorful foods. In space, however, lower gravity can affect our sense of taste, making food seem bland or stale. Despite this, astronauts still receive healthy meals to maintain their well-being.
In space, the lower gravity and pressure can cause liquids to behave unpredictably or even vaporize. Astronauts often drink through tubes to manage this issue, which can be challenging. Because they don't drink as much in space as they do on Earth, dehydration can become a problem.
On Earth, gravity helps us maintain muscle strength. In space, however, astronauts can lose up to 50% of their muscle mass. To combat this, they must exercise regularly during missions, but even then, they often don't maintain the same muscle condition as people on Earth. Besides individuals with certain diseases, astronauts are among the weakest due to the lack of gravity in space.
Traveling to distant locations in space is challenging because of the immense distances involved. The theory of relativity, specifically E=mc², implies that traveling at the speed of light is impossible for objects with mass. Currently, our spacecraft travel at much slower speeds, making long-distance space travel time-consuming.
Dehydration is a common problem for astronauts, primarily due to several factors. Firstly, adrenaline increases body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure, leading to sweating and water loss. Secondly, extreme g-forces can drain energy and water from the body, further increasing sweating and the likelihood of vomiting.
Thirdly, in microgravity, moisture from the body can evaporate more easily. Fourthly, it can be harder to drink fluids in space, coupled with increased urination due to microgravity. Finally, re-entry can also contribute to dehydration. It's crucial for astronauts to find effective ways to stay hydrated during their missions.
When your space mission is over, you re-enter Earth and go through its atmosphere, which has enough friction to burn an unprotected spacecraft. On February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia, (the first one ever launched) disintegrated upon re-entry due to insulation foam breaking off, killing all seven astronauts. This tragic incident highlights one of the many dangers of space travel.